Refers to bed numbers; does not take account whether a bed is occupied or unoccupied.

For example: A unit with 10 beds would usually have 3,650 available bed days during the year. If one of its five-bed areas is closed for 30 days because of ward decoration, there would be 30 x 5 = 150 unavailable bed-days. The available bed-days would now be 3,650 - 150 = 3,500.

European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. Glossary. 2009.